Drying apparatus



Feb. 3, 1942. F. s. BOLTZ mmne APPARATUS Filed March 25, 1938' 3 Sheets-Sheet ,1

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Patented Feb. 3, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE DRYING APPARATUS v Fred s. Boltz, Mansfield, Mass.

Application March 25, 1938, Serial No. 198,048

8 Claims. (Cl. 34-82) The present invention relates to apparatus for use, especially, in drying laundry by means of heated air.

It has been considered good practice from the view point of economy and efliciency to circulate air. through a drying chamber and heating chamber a number of times before discharging the heated air. While this practice has been eco nomical, it also possesses objectionable features. Thus, the heated air collects fine particles of lint from the dried clothes and an objectionable odor is imparted to the clothes from the heated lint. Attempts to remove the lint have been unsuccessful and have led to the less economical to be dried. In normal operationof such an apparatus each of the small lots of clothes usually is in a different stage of drying and, consequently, the drying is accelerated greatly due to the low drop in temperature of the heated air being circulated. If rotatable clothes receptacles are employed in the drying compartments, the operation of each may be controlled independently of the other for loading and unloading purposes. In such anapparatus the space occupied for a given drying capacity is reduced to a minimum.

Th invention will be more clearly understood from the following description in conjunction with accompanying drawings: in which,

'Fig. 1 is a front elevational view, partly in section, of an apparatus embodying the invention;

tion it is to be understood that the inventionis not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, and it is not intended to limit the invention claimed herein beyond thesrequirements of the prior art.

An apparatus embodying the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings comprises a sheet metal casing having a front wall III,

a backwall II, a top wall [2, side walls l3 and I4, and bottom 9. The bottom portion of the frontwall is closed by doors D. A partition [5 extends vertically parallel to the front and rear walls It and II and spaced a short distance forward of the rear wall H. The space between the front wall in and the partition i5 is divided by a horizontal partition It. The partitions l5 and I6 divide the interior of the apparatus into a heating chamber 20, a hot air chamber 2| and a cool air chamber 22. The partition I 6 has an opening 23 providing communication from the heating chamber 20 to the hot air chamber 2|. The partition I5 is provided with a pair of horizontally spaced circular openings 25 positioned above a similar .pair of openings 26 each providing communication between the hot air chamber 2| and the cool air chamber 22. The partition l5 also has a pair of openings 30 providing communication between the cool air chamber 22 and the heating chamber 20.

A heater H is positioned within the heating chamber" betweenthe openings 30 and the opening .23 and includes a radiator R, which may be supplied with steam. A stack 3| depends through the top wall I 2 into the heating chamber 20 to near the bottom of the latter. A shaft 32 rotatably mounted in bearings in the front wall In and the partition !5 extends through the stack 3| and carries a flap damper 33 controlling th outlet from the heating chamber 20 through the stack 3!. An operating handle 34 is suitably fixed upon the shaft 32 for adjusting the damper 33. A pair of shafts 35 extend through the rear wall II and are rotatably mounted in bearings 36 carried by brackets 31. A suction fan 38 is fixed upon each of the shafts 35 within the chamber 20 adjacent the openings 30. A pulley 40 is fixed upon each of the shafts 35 near its outer end and each is connected by a belt ll with a pulley 42 fixed upon the armature shaft of a motor 43 supported upon the top wall I2.

The front wall I is provided with pairs of openings 45 and 46 opposite the pairs of open-,

ings 25 and 26, respectively, in the partition I5. Annular plates 41 and 48 surround the openings 45 and 46 respectively and are secured to the front wall I0. The inner edgesof the plates 41 and 48 are provided with inturned flanges 50'and Two pairs of hollow sheet metal cylinders 60 and 6| extend between and are secured to the front wall l0 and the partition I with the open ends of the cylinders 60 are adjacent the openings 45 in the front wall I0 and the openings 25 in the partition I5 and with the open ends of the cylinders -6| adjacent the openings 26 and 46 in the partition I5 and front wall I0 respectively. The cylinders 60 and 6| are provided with openings 60' and 6| respectively in the region thereof most remote from the heating chamber 20 and providing communication with the hot air chamber 2|.

A plurality of bearings 66 extend through the rear wall II at points opposite the openings 25 and 26in the partition I5 and are supported by brackets 61 suitably fixed upon the rear wall II. A shaft 68 is rotatably mounted in each of the bearings 66. A pulley 69 is loosely mounted upon each of the shafts 68 and each is connected with a pulley I0 by a single belt II. A friction clutch C provides a driving connection between the pulley 69 and shaft 68. The pulley forms part of a speed reduction mechanism G driven by a motor M which is carried by a bracket I2 fixed upon the rear wall I I. A spider I3 is fixed upon the inner end of each of the shafts 68 and each supports a perforated cylinder I5 extending into each of the cylinders 60 and 6| and providing a clothes receptacle. An annular flange I6 is fixed to the front end of the receptacle I5 and extends radially inward to leave an opening 'I'I opposite the openings 45 and 46 in the front wall I 0. The members I6 are spaced from the front wall I0 to leave an annular passage I8 providing communication between the hot air chamber 2| and the interior of the receptacle 15. A perforated disk F9 is positioned across the back end of each perforated cylinder I5.

A brake mechanism is associated with each receptacle 15 to control its rotation irrespective of the others. Thus, an opening 80 is provided in the front wall I0 adjacent each of the openings 45 and 46 (Figs. 1 and 4). A brake shoe, such as a strip of metal BI, is secured at one end by rivets 82 to the inner surface of the front wall I I adjacent the opening 80 so as to extend across the same adjacent the surface of the flange 16. A lever 83 is pivotally mounted upon a bracket 84 and is provided at its inner end with a cam surface 85 adapted to project through the opening 80 and engage the brake shoe 8|.

The friction clutch C for connecting each pulley 69 to its shaft 68 (Fig. 5) comprises a collar 88 fixed upon the shaft 68 carrying a brake or clutch lining 89. The lining 89 is adapted to engage one end of the hub of the pulley 69. A sleeve 90 slidably mounted upon the shaft 68 is provided with a brake or clutch lining 9| adapted to engage the other end of the hub of the pulley 69. Each of a plurality of pins 92 carried by the collar 90 slidably engages a bearing 93 communieating with a cavity 96 formed in the cylindrical wall of a cup-shaped member 94 which is secured upon the outer end of the shaft 68 by a bolt 95. Each of the pins 92 is provided with an enlarged head 91 positionedin the cavity 96. a A spring 98 is interposed between the head 91 and the bottom of the cavity and tends to urge the sleeve and the clutch lining 9| resiliently in engagement with the end of the hub of the pulley 69.

Hooks I00 and |0I fixed upon diametrically opposite points of each of the stationary cylinders 60 are adapted to receive hooks I02 and I03 fixed upon the upper edge of screens I04 and I05 respectively thereby permitting the screens to hang by gravity across the passage between the cylinders 60 and 6| and across the air passage between the cylinders 60 and 6|. Spaced hooks l0! and I08 are also secured upon each of the cylinders 6| and are adapted to receive hooks I09 and 0 carried by the upper end of screens III and 2 respectively so that the latter may rest upon the bottom of the apparatus with their lower ends in engagement thus extending across the air passage below the cylinders 6|.

A tank 5 is suitably supported upon the top wall I2 and is adapted to contain a deodorant. The tank H5 is connected by a pipe 6 to a faucet- I! positioned above a funnel I|8 which communicates by a pipe 9 with an open pan I20 located within the hot air chamber 2|. Perforated pipes I25 are positioned adjacent the inner surface of each of the screens I04, I05, III and I I2 and are connected with a compressed gas supply pipe I26 through valves I21.

In the operation of the apparatus power is supplied from the motor 43 to the suction fans 38 which cause air to circulate through the cool air chamber 22, the heater I-I, thence through the passage 23 into the hot air chamber 2|. The air stream divides in the chamber 2| and passes through openings 60' and 6| in the bottom of the chambers 60 and 6| and through the passages 18. After entering the chambers 60 and 6|, the air passes through the receptacles I5 and back to the cool air passage 22. At the same time power is supplied from the motor M to each of the shafts 68 to rotate the receptacles 15 which contain the clothes to be dried. During the circulation of the air a certain proportion of the moisture containing the air is exhausted through the stack 3| and is replenished by fresh air drawn in through the openings 45 and 46.

When it is desired to load one of the receptacles I5 with a batch of clothes to be dried or to remove a batch of dry clothes therefrom, the lever 83 is actuated to cause the brake shoe 8| to be brought into engagement with the flange I6 thereby stopping the rotation of the receptacle I5. This is permitted by slippage between the pulley 69 and the clutch C. The clothes are inserted and removed through the openings 45 and 46 without opening or closing doors as is usually necessary. Inasmuch as the clothes in the various receptacles '15 usually will be in a different stage of the drying the drop in temperature due to evaporation of moisture is relaber also provided by said casing, means providing lint tends to be thrown out and collect upon the bottom of the apparatus. Any lint which is not thus thrown out is trapped upon the screens I04, I05, III and H2 and is thus prevented from entering the drying chambers. When a certain amount of lint is thus collected upon, the screens it will free itself by its own weight and drop to the bottom of the hot air chamber where it can be removed by opening the doors D. If the lint collected upon the screens fails to free itself, the valves I21 may be opened to cause compressed gas to be blown through the pipes I25 upon the screens and thus remove the lint. As an additional precaution against imparting an objectionable Odor to the dry clothes by the heated lint, a deodorant is supplied from the tank H5 to the pan I which is located in the path of the circuit of heated air.

The action which effects the removal of the lint from the air stream is illustrated diagrammatically in Figs. 6, '7 and 8. As the air stream moves toward the drying chambers, its path is sharply diverted as indicated at K in Figs. 6, 7 and 8. In so doing the lint is thrown out by the/action of centrifugal force and drops toward the bottom of the apparatus where it collects in a pile P. As the air stream passes through the screens, if any lint remains in the air stream some of it will be caught and collected upon the screens I04, I05, III and H2 as indicated at T in Figs. '7 and 8. If the collected lint is not removed from the screens by the force of the air stream itself, it can be removed periodically by compressed gas supplied from the pipes I25. When screens I04, I05, III and H2 are not-used, the lint is removed solely by the action of centrifugal force as above described.

I claim:

1. In a laundry drier, in combination, a casing then in a curved path before entering the drying compartment thereby tending to cast off lint, means for recirculating air through said chambers and compartment, and a screen disposed across said curved path.

2. In a laundry drier, in combination, a casing providing an air heating chamber communicating with a hot air chamber and a cool air chamber also provided by said casing below said heating chamber, means providing a drying compartment within said hot air chamber communicating with the cool air chamber, said drying compartment having an inlet from said hot air chamber positioned so as to cause a stream of air to travel downward partially around said drying compartment in said hot air chamber and then in a curved path before entering the drying compartment thereby tending to cast off lint, said casing having an opening providing communication between said compartment and the outside atmosphere, means for recirculating air through said chambers and compartment, and a screen disposed across said curved path.

3. In a laundry drier, in combination, a casing providing an air heating chamber communicating with a hot air chamber and a cool air chama drying compartment within said hot air chamber communicating with the cool air chamber opening providing communication between said I compartment and the outside atmosphere, a perforated laundry receptacle mounted for rotation within said drying compartment and having an open end positioned adjacent said opening, said receptacle having an inwardly extending flange at its open end adapted to cooperate with said casing to provide a passage for hot air from said compartment into said receptacle through the open end thereof, and means for recirculating air through said chambers and compartment.

4. In a laundry drier, in combination, a casing providing an air heating chamber communicating with a hot air chamber and a cool air chamber also provided by said casing means providing a drying compartment withinsaid hot air chamber communicating with the cool air chamber and having an inlet from said hot air chamber positioned so as to cause a stream of air from said heating chamber to travel in a curved path before entering the drying compartment thereby tending to cast off lint, means for recirculating air through said chambers and compartment, and a screen extending across the path of travel of air from said hot air chamber into said compartment to collect lint not cast 011 from said air stream.

5. In a laundry drier, in combination, a casing providing an air heating chamber communicating with a hot air chamber and a cool air chamber also provided by said casing, means providing a drying compartment within said hot air chamber communicating with the cool air chamber and having an inlet from said hot air chamber positioned so as to cause a stream of air from said heating chamber to travel in a curved path before entering the drying compartment thereby tending to cast off lint, means for recirculating air through said chambers and compartment, a screen extending across the path of travel of air from said hot air chamber into said compartment to collect lint not cast off from said air stream, and means for removing lint collected upon said screen.

6. In a laundry drier, in combination, a casing, means to divide the easing into an air heating chamber, a'hot air chamber and a cool air chamber, said hot air chamber rand cool air chamber communicating with each other and each communicating with said heating chamber,

means for heating air in the heating chamber,

means providing a plurality of separate drying compartments within said hot air chamber each communicating with the cool air chamber and each including a perforated rotatable receptacle and having an inlet from said hot air chamber, said last mentioned means and said casing having a plurality of aligned normally uncovered openings providing communication between said compartments and the outside atmosphere and also providing annular passages around the openings in said casing from said hot air chamber to said compartments, means for recirculating air in a circuit through said chambersand compartments, a controllable exhaust for moisture laden air from said circuit, means for rotating said receptacles, and means associated with each receptacle for stopping its rotation independently of the others.

7. In a laundry drier, in combination, a casing, means to divide the casing into an air heating chamber, a hot air chamber and a cool air chamber, said hot air chamber and cool air chamber communicating with each other and each communicating with said heating chamber, means for heating air in the heating chamber, means providing a plurality of separate drying compartments within said hot air chamber each communicating with the cool air chamber and each including a perforated rotatable receptacle and having an inlet at its lower part from said hot air chamber, said last mentioned means and said casing having a plurality of aligned normally uncovered openings providing communication between said compartments and the outside atmos-,

phere and also providing annular passages around the openings in said casing from said hot air chamber to said compartments, means for recirculating air in a circuit through said chambers and compartments, a controllable exhaust for moisture laden air from said circuit, means for rotating said receptacles, and means associated with each receptacle for stopping its rotation independently of the others.

8. In a laundry drier, in combination, a casing, means to divide the easing into an air heating chamber, a hot air chamber and a cool air chamber, said hot air chamber and cool air chamber communicating with each other and each communicating with said heating chamber, means for heating air in the heating chamber, means providing a drying compartment within said hot air chamber communicating with the cool air chamber and having an inlet from said hot air chamber positioned so as to cause a stream of air from said heating chamber to travel in a curved path before entering the drying compartment thereby tending to cast of! lint, said casing having a normally uncovered opening providing communication between said compartment and the outside atmosphere, a perforated laundry receptacle mounted for rotation within said drying compartment and having an open end of greater diameter than said opening and positioned adjacent the latter and spaced from said casing to provide a passage for hot air from said compartment into said receptacle through the open end thereof, means for rotating said receptacle, and means for recirculating air through said chambers and compartment.

- FRED S. BOLTZ. 

